Show Jumping News :: Everything Horse :: Sunshine Tour
Irish rider Dermott Lennon outclassed over 100 competitors in the CSI4* Big Tour Class.
It was a perfect day for the first CSI4* of the XXVI Sunshine Tour, with plenty of sun and an electric atmosphere as around 1000 combinations took to the arenas. Dermott Lennon riding “MJM Pursuit” really demonstrated their talents, beating off 109 competitors, 47 of whom went clear in this 1.50m speed class. The ‘time allowed’ was 73sec but Dermott left everyone speechless as he stopped the clock in a mere 58.74sec.
Dermott knows his 11 yr old mare really well and is very familiar with the arena at the Tour as last year they were the winners of a CSI3* Grand Prix MT. They have also been placed in various 5* events including those in Calgary;
I am very happy with the way the mare is jumping. I hope that we can do well this weekend in the Grand Prix class, that’s my objective for this week” said Dermott.
No one would be surprised if the experienced Irish rider was to be placed in the Grand Prix, he has already succeeded at the top of his field winning both the European Team Championship in 2001 and also the Jerez, World Equestrian Games in 2002.
Julie Welles (USA) also had an excellent day taking second place with the talented mare Ambra, who has passed through the stables of both Michael Whitaker and Luca Moneta. Andreas Schou was third in the class with Quadrossom Ask.
In the 1.40m Big Tour B class, there were more than 130 competitors. The course was designed by Luis J González Molina. The Portuguese rider Antonio Matos took first place with Irene Van de Kwachthoeve. The renowned French rider, Michel Robert was second, his first top placing at the this year’s Tour. James Davenport took a well deserved third place riding One Endeavour.
In the 1.35m class, there was another notable performance from the amazing 25 yr old, German rider Kendra Claricia Brinkop who is having a very successful Tour so far. Kendra is riding for the Stephex Stables this year, previously she rode for two years with Marcus Enhing giving her a great depth of experience with classes of this level.
I have 12 horses here with me at the Sunshine Tour, four are Young Horses and the rest are adults but I haven’t been riding them for very long. Today [Thursday] I won the class with Ultrachic de Charmois, a great horse who I hope to ride tomorrow in the 1.45m class. All the horses are jumping relatively well. I am delighted to be here the installations are unbelievable!” said Kendra Claricia.
The Japanese Olympic rider, Toshiki Masui, was second in this class and the very successful Turkish regular at the Tour, Omer Karaevli, was third. There were 90 competitors in this class.
The Young Horses finished off their third week of competition today with British riders taking most of the top spots. Emma Stoker and Q Seven, were the winners of Section A of the 7yr old class and Jessica Hewitt won the A Section of the 6yr olds with Mojito TW. Breaking the British run was the Spanish rider, Ricardo del Campo who won Section A, of the 5yr olds with Chantal de Westfalia. But the British Jai Snelling wasn’t content with second place in this section and went on to win Section B with Kama Vdl.
Enno Klaphake from Germany also broke the British winning streak in the other 7yr old Section winning the class with Cortes and beating off two other British riders, Jane Annett and Megan James. Kim Emmen from the Netherlands won Section B of the 6yr olds with Astrid’s Lad.
For more information on the remainder of this year’s competition visit Sunshinetour website.
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